Tool Assisted Soft Tissue: What You Need to Know

At Helix, our doctors utilize a variety of techniques to help our patients get out of pain and return to the activities that bring them joy in life. One of the techniques we rely upon to treat patients is known as “Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization” or IASTM for short. This technique is also commonly known as “Graston”, but for the sake of simplicity we’ll refer to it as IASTM.

So what exactly is IASTM? 

IASTM is a treatment technique that effectively helps to break down scar tissue while improving range of motion and decreasing pain. IASTM can be used to treat all types of injuries ranging from muscle strains, ligament sprains, and can even help treat post-surgical scars. IASTM is popular for all types of athletes including CrossFitters, golfers, tennis players, baseball players, runners, cyclists, and more! IASTM tools come in various shapes and sizes to accommodate different areas of the body. Some of these tools are shown in the image below.

 

How is it performed?

The doctor will use the tool to gently scrape the skin in the area of the injured soft tissue utilizing the appropriate pressure and angle of application. The doctor will utilize an emollient (lotion) of some kind to help the instrument glide across the skin. The treatment shouldn’t be painful, as the goal is to tailor treatment to your tolerance level.

How does it work?

When we experience an injury to our soft tissue (muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia) the body responds by laying down fibrotic scar tissue as a protective barrier over the injured area. While this is a natural response to injury we will occasionally run into an issue where pain seems to linger or we lose the ability to move through a particular range of motion without it feeling stuck or restricted as a result of this scar tissue. 

IASTM is applied to the injured area of soft tissue to intentionally create microtrauma. This may seem counterintuitive, but the presence of microtrauma begins a cascade of events that starts with blood being brought to the area followed by a natural process that reabsorbs the excessive fibrotic tissue formed after the injury and allows for new healthy tissue to be laid down in a more organized fashion. When we combine IASTM with a custom rehabilitative exercise program we can effectively help to remodel soft tissue to become stronger and more resilient, which means you’ll have less pain when you return to activity!

Got a problem? We can help!

If you or someone you know has experienced a recent soft-tissue injury, if you feel restricted in certain ranges of motion, or if you had an old injury that never seemed to heal properly IASTM might be the solution for you! All of our doctors at Helix are trained in this technique and can utilize this treatment as part of a custom program to help you get out of pain and get back to doing the things you enjoy. 

 

SOURCES:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31322903/

https://www.physio-pedia.com/Instrument_Assisted_Soft_Tissue_Mobilization